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Kingswood Solution to Dingley Housing Need

The master-planned development of the soon-to-be vacant Kingswood golf course site could ease demand for housing in and around Dingley Village and provide parks, paths and wetlands for the local community to enjoy.

Melbourne’s population is growing by about 125,000 people each year and government planners expect it to reach 8 million by 2051. However, the possibility for new developments in Dingley Village is limited when compared to nearby Clayton South or Keysborough. Only 30 building approvals were recorded for Dingley Village in 2017-18, less than 10 per cent of those in the neighbouring suburbs.

The Developer, ASRP1, bought the Kingswood course in September 2014 following the golf club’s decision to move. The Senior Development Manager for ASRP1’s Kingswood project team, Anna Martiniello, said there is a need for housing in the area, particularly master-planned, thoughtful development, as proposed for the golf club site.

The proposed plans for the Dingley Village site include 760 individual lots for both low-density and medium-density housing. The range of options would provide options for locals to downsize yet stay in the area, and for first-home buyers and low-income families to buy into the community.

“We study population statistics when planning residential developments,” Ms Martiniello said. And the State Government’s planning policy is focused on delivering higher numbers of dwellings within established areas rather than the growth areas on the city’s fringe.”

The most recent ABS figures show there were more than 80,000 births in Victoria in 2017, which implies there will be more demand for housing from young families. Official state population projections also expect the share of the population aged over 65 years to increase from 15 per cent now to more than 20 per cent by 2051 resulting in more demand from older people looking to downsize.

Ms Martiniello said the ASRP1 project team had worked carefully with Kingston Council planners over the past three years to design a development that met the needs of the community now and into the future.

“It’s important to plan carefully, which is what we’re proposing for Kingswood. It will have a range of housing options, thoughtfully spread across the site, along with connected walking and bike paths and parks. The introduction of wetlands to the area will encourage wildlife” she said.

ASRP1 is committed to working with the existing Dingley Village community to ensure the new development integrates with it. The project team has hosted two community information sessions, has responded immediately to all community queries and maintained a comprehensive website.

Ms Martiniello acknowledged that some Dingley Village neighbours have opposed development of the site and that Kingston Council had received a number of identical submissions urging rejection of the application to re-zone.

Ms Martiniello said the Kingswood project team has reviewed the issues raised in submissions made to Council in context of the documentation submitted for exhibition.

“We understand the concerns that some people have about development, but the demographic trends, the quality of master-plan and the recreational benefits to the community are a compelling reason to support the project,” she said.

Ms Martiniello said one group that would particularly benefit from the ASRP1 proposal was downsizers, those individuals or couples in Dingley Village that wanted to move into something smaller yet stay in the community.

Kingston Council will decide later this year on ASRP1’s application to have the land rezoned and approved for residential redevelopment.